Container with easy opening end unit

ABSTRACT

An easy opening container having an end panel in which a pour opening including a closure flap is defined by a lance. The closure flap normally overlies the pour opening and is depressable into the container. A tab is hingedly attached to the end panel and includes a shield having an opening bounded by a projecting flange. The flange serves to depress the closure flap into the container when the tab overlies the flap and the tab opening is aligned with the pour opening.

O United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,871,552

lrland et al. Mar. 18, 1975 CONTAINER WITH EASY OPENING END 2,022,342 11/1935 Drood 222/83 UNIT 2,051,138 8/1936 ,Gebhardt 222/89 2,171,094 8/1939 Livoti 222/90 [75] Inventors: Lewis F- Irland, Palos 1lls; Jo n 2,522,420 9/1950 Wine et a]. 222/90 x Nicholson, Country Club Hills, be of I Primary E.raminer-Robert B. Reeves [73] Assignee: Continental b Company, Inc" Assistant E.\uminerFrancis J. Bartuska New York NY Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John .l. Kowalik; Joseph E.

Kerwin; William A. Dittman [22] Filed: June 15, 1973 [211 Appl. No.: 370,504 [57] ABSTRACT An easy opening container having an end panel in 52 us. c1 222/83, 220/47, 222/478 which 8 P Opening including a Closure p is 51 Int. Cl B67b 7/24, B65d 51/22 fined by a lahce- The Closure p normally overlies 581 Field of Search 222/30, s1, 83, 83.5, 89, the P Opening and is dfipressahle into the 9911- 222/90, 478, 541, 566, 567, 569; 220/47, 44 tainer. A tab is hingedly attached to the end panel and R includes a shield having an opening bounded by a projecting flange. The flange serves to depress the closure 5 References Cited flap into the container when the tab overlies the flap UNITED STATES PATENTS and the tab opening is aligned with the pour opening. 1,963,222 6/1934 B5161 222/90 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures CONTAINER WITH EASY OPENING END UNIT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to easy opening containers and more particularly to an easy opening container of the type having a non-detachable closure flap which is depressed into the container to provide a pour opening.

The easy opening closure includes a panel having an opening which is normally sealed by a separable closure portion formed by a lance having spaced ends about which the closure portion is hingeable to a position in the container to permit the contents to be poured through the opening. An opening member for depressing the closure portion out of the panel opening is secured to the panel on the opposite side of the hinge line defined by the ends of the opening. The opening member includes a hinge about which it is swingable into overlying relationship with the closure portion and upon downward movement engagement therewith the closure is depressed into the container body. The opening member includes an aperture which is aligned with the opening in the panel when the closure is depressed so that the container product is poured therethrough.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of a container having an end closure incorporating the easy opening structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the closure in the open position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the easy opening closure of the present invention is incorporated in a panel 11 ofan end closure 12. The end closure 12 is attached to a can body 13 by means ofa double seam 14.

The easy opening closure includes a closure flap l5 sealing an opening 16 and a tab 17. The closure flap is defined .by a substantially U-shaped lance or slit 18 having a bight portion 19 and a pair of spaced legs 20-20 terminating in ends 21-21. The closure flap 15 is adapted to hinge or bend about a line H passing through ends 21-21.

The bight portion 19 is formed by a pair of converging slits which merge at an apex 210 located adjacent the chuck wall of the end closure 12. The closure flap 15 may be bulged by drawing upwardly in the center thereof and then flattened so that the marginal edge portion 22 underlies the underside of the panel bounding the opening 16. A sealant 23 such as plastisol may be applied along the edge of the flap 15. A suitable closure flap structure and the manner for forming the same is disclosed in US. Pat. 2,261,117, dated Nov. 4, 194].

The tab 17 is located in diametrical opposed relation to the closure flap 15 and may be made from a plastic material such as polyethylene, polystyrene or the like. The tab 17 includes an attachment hinge 24 which is releasably bonded to the end panel 11 by a suitable coating. A shield 25 is integrally attached to the hinge 24 and is movable between a stored position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a container opening position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The shield 25 includes an aperture 26 bounded by a projecting flange 27 contoured to snuggly seat within the opening 16. The shield 24 may be conveniently shaped to provide a sanitary shield about the panel opening 16. The flange 27 may be provided with a groove 270 into which the edge about the opening 16 is adapted to seat. In this manner the shield 25 is retained latched over the opening 16 in tight face-to-face engagement with the panel 11.

The shield 25 is releasably retained against the panel 11 and spaced from the closure flap 15 prior to opening by an integrally attached headed pin 28. The headed pin 28 is resiliently secured in a hole 29 which is lesser size then a head 31 and slightly smaller than the shank 32. However, because of the yieldable and resilient nature of the plastic the headed pin may be withdrawn from the hold 29 upon the application of an upward pulling force. The shield may then be hinged about the attachment flap or hinge strap 24 until the flange 27 en gages the closure flap 15. Upon separation of the headed pin 28 from the hole 29, the contents of the container are vented to atmosphere. Continued downward pressure on the shield 25 causes the flange 27 to push the closure flap 15 to the opened position as shown in FIG. 4. It is to be noted that in this position, the edge about the pour opening 16 seats in the groove 27a of the flange 27 to hold the aperture 26 aligned with the panel opening 16. The flange 27 thus covers the cut edge about the opening 16 and prevents cutting thereby. At the same time, the shield 25 covers the exposed area of the panel about the opening 16 so that it serves as a sanitary shield.

What is claimed is:

1. An easy opening container'comprising an end closure flap having a panel, a closure on the panel bendable into the container to form a pour opening in the panel, a tab located at one side of said opening and hingedly attached to the panel so as to be movable from one side of said opening to an overlying position to the closure flap, projecting means on the tab for depressing said closure flap into the container when said tab is depressed thereagainst, said tab including a shield having an aperture alignable with said opening, said tab including a projecting shank having an enlarged head positioned in closing relation to a vent opening in said panel when said tab is located at said one side 2. An easy opening container comprising:

a container component having a surface;

a one-piece essentially flat tab means having a first position flatwise against said surface and having an opening at one end and a bendable hinge at the other end including a portion permanently con nected at one side to said surface, said hinge portion operative in said first position of the tab to hold the tab in said first position;

a closure on said component displaceable into the container to provide a pour aperture through said surface;

said tab bendable about the hinge from said first position to a second position disposing said one end thereof in overlying relation to said closure, said one end having means thereon for forcing said closure inwardly of the container and aligning said opening with said aperture upon said tab being pressed against said closure.

3. The invention according to claim 2 and said tab and container component having cooperative means operative to secure the tab to said container in said first position and to vent the container in response to said bending of said hinge.

4. The invention according to claim 3 and said venting means comprising a vent hole through said surface, and a plug in said vent hole connected to said tab and withdrawable from said hole during said swinging movement of the tab.

5. The invention according to claim 2 and said forcing means comprising a projection on said tab adapted to fit into said aperture.

6. The invention according to claim 5 and said projection encompassing the opening on the tab and dimensioned to fit into said aperture and provide a shield about said aperture.

7. The invention according to claim 6 and Said projection having a groove adapted to receive therein a wall portion of said component.

8. An easy opening container comprising a body with an end panel having a closure fiap displaceable into said container to form a pour aperture therein, a one piece generally flat tab located in a first position biasing said tab to said first position at one side of said aperture against said panel and having first and second end portions and an intermediate bendable hinge portion, means securing said first portion to said panel adjacent to the aperture, said second portion being liftable and having an opening therein, said liftable second portion adapted to be swung 180 with attendant bending of the hinge portion to a position disposing said second portion in overlying relation to said closure flap, said sec- 4 0nd portion having means for depressing said flap into the container upon pressure being applied thereto.

9. The invention according to claim 8 and said tab having an obverse side facing said panel and said depressing means being formed on the reverse side of the tab whereby upon the tab swinging about said hinge portion said depressing means is disposed between the tab and the closure flap.

10. The invention according to claim 9 and said depressing means comprising a projection complementally shaped to the pour aperture for close fitment therein.

11. The invention according to claim 10 and said projection being flexible and comprising a peripheral groove adapted to receive the marginal edge portion of the pour aperture.

12. An easy opening container comprising a body with an end panel having a closure flap displaceable into said container to form a pour aperture therein, a tab located at one side of said aperture and having a bendable hinge portion fixedly secured to said panel adjacent to the aperture, said tab having a liftable portion with an opening therein, said liftable portion adapted to be swung with attendant bending of the hinge portion to a position overlying said closure flap and having means for depressing said flap into the container upon pressure being applied to said tab, and vent-forming means connected to said hinge portion operable to form a vent in the end panel attendant to bending of the hinge portion upon lifting of the tab.

13. The invention according to claim 12 and said vent forming means being in the form of a rivet extending through and closing an opening in the end panel. 

1. An easy opening container comprising an end closure flap having a panel, a closure on the panel bendable into the container to form a pour opening in the panel, a tab located at one side of said opening and hingedly attached to the panel so as to be movable from one side of said opening to an overlying position to the closure flap, projecting means on the tab for depressing said closure flap into the container when said tab is depressed thereagainst, said tab including a shield having an aperture alignable with said opening, said tab including a projecting shank having an enlarged head positioned in closing relation to a vent opening in said panel when said tab is located at said one side
 2. An easy opening container comprising: a container component having a surface; a one-piece essentially flat tab means having a first position flatwise against said surface and having an opening at one end and a bendable hinge at the other end including a portion permanently connected at one side to said surface, said hinge portion operative in said first position of the tab to hold the tab in said first position; a closure on said component displaceable into the container to provide a pour aperture through said surface; said tab bendable about the hinge from said first position to a second position disposing said one end thereof in overlying relation to said closure, said one end having means thereon for forcing said closure inwardly of the container and aligning said opening with said aperture upon said tab being pressed against said closure.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 and said tab and container component having cooperative means operative to secure the tab to said container in said first position and to vent the container in response to said bending of said hinge.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 and said venting means comprising a vent hole through said surface, and a plug in said vent hole connected to said tab and withdrawable from said hole during said swinging movement of the tab.
 5. The invention according to claim 2 and said forcing means comprising a projection on said tab adapted to fit into said aperture.
 6. The invention according to claim 5 and said projection encompassing the opening on the tab and dimensioned to fit into said aperture and provide a shield about said aperture.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 and said projection having a groove adapted to receive therein a wall portion of said component.
 8. An easy opening container comprising a body with an end panel having a closure flap displaceable into said container to form a pour aperture therein, a one piece generally flat tab located in a first position biasing said tab to said first position at one side of said aperture against said panel and having first and second end portions and an intermediate bendable hinge portion, means securing said first portion to said panel adjacent to the aperture, said second portion being liftable and having an opening therein, said liftable second portion adapted to be swung 180* with attendant bending of the hinge portion to a position disposing said second portion in overlying relation to said closure flap, said second portion having means for depressing said flap into the container upon pressure being applied thereto.
 9. The invention according to claim 8 and said tab having an obverse side facing said panel and said depressing means being formed on the reverse side of the tab whereby upon the tab swinging about said hinge portion said depressing means is disposed between the tab and the closure flap.
 10. The invention according to claim 9 and said depressing means comprising a projection complementally shaped to the pour aperture for close fitment therein.
 11. The invention according to claim 10 and said projection being flexible and comprising a peripheral groove adapted to receive the marginal edge portion of the pour aperture.
 12. An easy opening container comprising a body with an end panel having a closure flap displaceable into said container to form a pour aperture therein, a tab located at one side of said aperture and having a bendable hinge portion fixedly secured to said panel adjacent to the aperture, said tab having a liftable portion with an opening therein, said liftable portion adapted to be swung 180* with attendant bending of the hinge portion to a position overlying said closure flap and having means for depressing said flap into the container upon pressure being applied to said tab, and vent-forming means connected to said hinge portion operable to form a vent in the end panel attendant to bending of the hinge portion upon lifting of the tab.
 13. The invention according to claim 12 and said vent forming means being in the form of a rivet extending through and closing an opening in the end panel. 